Basic advice for using front panel designer needed

Are the slots/holes already existent that are used to mount the chassis to the hardware rack brackets when you submit the order? If no, what spacing and thickness should the screw holes be on the sides of my front panel?

Do you have any advice about using this software (hole sizes, good placement..) ?

This the first chassis that I will ever be designing the front panel on.

If anyone has an existing file of a functional layout done with front panel express, I would greatly appreciate the file so that I may browse and see what one looks like from an experienced designer.

Thanks in advance and regardless.

If you're ordering from schaeffer or fpe, you'll need to place the 19" and case holes yourself.
However, 19" holes are readily available under "system holes" (left to the "coins" symbol on the right side of the toolbar).
The case mounting holes are different for every manufacturer. Even the standard holes for schroff will not fit some schroff cases IIRC.
Read the faq, it's helpful.

If you're just looking for any working fpd file, I have posted one in the gdy-gmail account. Look for 'calrec'. It's the one pictured here http://www.groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=39422.0

Hope this helps!


edit: correcting my flenglish

Yeh, make sure you measure the distnace between mounting holes on your case if you already have it, or look at a technical drawing from the manufacturer if you haven't got it yet, as the preset 19" hole templates aren't always right. Look for the jskala scale maker thingy, its somewhere on here so just search, or i think its on the schaeffer website somewhere. Dont worry though, it really isn't that hard 
Heres a link to one of my front panels: http://www.sendspace.com/file/xytc5f

Cheers

You guys are awesome! Thanks. If I hit any walls while making the layout I will post in here again.

For info about hole spacing for rack mounted gear, see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19-inch_rack

http://www.server-racks.com/eia-310.html

Google can find you other resources if you search for something like:    EIA rack panels

Best,

Bri